"These two events were very remarkable, for you can see that the local Tibetan, even 14th Dalai Lama himself, recognized and observed the jurisdiction of the central government," said Sonam Dawa, an archaeologist in Lhasa.

Unfortunately, the Amban reception pavilion, which used to be a scenic spot integrating traditional Tibetan architectural with the gardening style of Chinese hinterland, wore off throughout the years. Only dilapidated walls and broken wooden pillars featuring exquisite carvings are left

The regional government has approved a restoration project for the historical site. It will likely start in the this summer at a cost of 2 million yuan (US$292,826).

Traditional building materials, construction techniques and structural layout will be employed for the project, which will help maximize efforts to restore the original appearance of the historical site, according to Zhang Hui.

Sonam Chosphel, a local senior building engineer, said, "Though the project is a small one in construction scale, it will recall memory about a history that tends to be in oblivion or be obscured by someone deliberately."

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2009)